Brendon lives with his single mom, Paula (wonderfully played by Paula Poundstone until episode 6, when she was replaced by the equally effective Janine Ditullio), whose own neuroses peak during some very funny moments. Among these is a school meeting that finds her removing her sweater and spouting a string of obscenities, a writing class that ends repeatedly in make-out sessions with a nameless slinger of sexy doggerel, and a disastrous date with Brendon's soccer coach, a hefty bully and all-around loser, John McGuirk (H. Jon Benjamin). McGuirk is Brendon's foil throughout the series, a drunk with rage problems and dubious ethics who often leans on the young hero as a confidante when he isn't making the poor kid run extra laps. The show's dialogue comes fast, biting, and painfully honest, characters frequently talk at the same time, and some of the best material is in the short dramas that Brendon tapes with friends Melissa (Melissa Bardin Galsky) and Jason (also H. Jon Benjamin). Home Movies is not to be missed by anyone who enjoys urbane comedy, animated or otherwise. --Tom Keogh